Improvement in water-wheels



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE:

DANIEL DONCASTER, 0F PUNXSUTAWNEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

lMPROVEMENT IN WATER-WH EELS.

Specication forming pa t of Letters Patent No. 38,887, dated June 16, 1863.

To all whom, it may concern/ Be it known that I, DANIEL DONCASTER, of Punxsutawney, in the county otl Jefferson and lState of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Turbines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make part ot' this specification, and in which- Figure l represents a view, in perspective, of a turbine embracing my improvements 5 and Fig. 2 a vertical section through the axis of the spindle, a portion only of the mechanism being shown in this figure.

My invention, although applicable to other species of turbines, is more especially adapted to that known as the J ouval turbine. This turbine, being constructed entirely of iron, is so very costly as to place it beyond the reach of any but those of large means, and, from its deective mode of cutting oft' the water, cannot be worked to the best advantage with as low a head of water as it is often necessary to use. Now, it is one of the objects of my invention to provide a turbine which shall be as effective as the J ouval at a cost so low as to place it within the reach of every miller in the country. This I can do by constructing the machine mainly of wood,using iron only where necessary to prevent undue friction and wear but to do this I have been compelled materially to modify the machinery heretofore employed.

The improvements claimed under this patent consist, first, in a novel method of suspending the stationary or guide wheel above themovable wheel, and in an adjustable guideframe, whereby the proper working of the mechanism -may eft'ectually be controlled, as hereinafter shown; secondly, in combining` with the turbine a gate suspended horizontally beneath the wheel and adjustable vertically by means of suspensionrods, by which means I am enabled to employ a low head of water with great effect; thirdly, in a novel method of combining an adjustable guide-frame, a guide-wheel, and a turbine with a gate underneath the same, whereby I secure a cheap, simple, and efficient machine.

In the accompanying drawings, which represent a convenient arrangement of parts for carrying out the objects of my invention, a turbine, A, is represented as forming part of and turning with a spindle, B, mounted in suitable bearings in a penstock, D. This turbine is provided with buckets a, similar to those of the ordinary Jouval. A stationary or guide wheel, C, is located above the' turbine A. In this instance this wheel is shown as made of an annular shape, and as encircling' the spindle B in such manner as to permit it to move freely upon the shaft, either vertically or laterally. It is composed mainly of wood, the buckets and banding only being of iron. A liange or rim, c, is formed upon the upper edge of this wheel in order that it may rest upon a guide-frame, E, which is suspended from cross-timbers F, forming part of the penstock-frame, and can be raised or lowered by means of nuts and screws on the suspension-rods e. This serves to adjust the adjacent faces of the guide-wheel and turbine to each other in order that they may work smoothly and prevent the escape of water. These faces, moreover, are cased with iron to prevent excessive friction and wear.

In order to use water economically, to obtain the full effect of its power, and to work with a low head, I arrange the gate Gr below the turbine and parallel to its lower face, as shownin Fig. 2. This gate is suspended from levers H (pivoted to the penstock) by rods or chains g, and is raised or lowered bya windlass, I, and cords or chains, t', operated by a hand-wheel, J. This method ot' raising and lowering may, however, be varied, according to circumstances, by various equivalent devices .well known to mechanics. The horizontality and parallelism of the gate, with respect to the wheel, are preserved by guiderods K, upon which the gate traverses.

The operation of the turbine is as tollows: The water ilows into the guide-wheel C from the penstock and impinges upon the buckets of the turbine A, causing both it and the spindle B to revolve, and then escapes between the lower face of the 'turbine and the gate G. 'The ow of water, and consequently the working power of the turbine, is regulated by raising or lowering the gate Gr, so as to increase or diminish the aperture of the discharge-opening. By shutting the gate the ow is stopped, and as the wheel is always full of water, or rather covered by it, the parts are, in a measure, protected from freezing. The adjustment between the two adjacent faces of the guide-wheel and turbine is likewise readily made by raising or lowering the guide-frame E. The easy workin g of the parl s is thus secured, and waste of water and wear of the wheel prevented. In case a stick or other obstruction should enter the guidewheel, it would, owing to its mode of suspension, rise and thus prevent injury to the wheel or gearing.

I am,of course, aware that gates have heretofore been placed below a wheel, and that many of the features of my wheel are in comlnon use. My method of combining and arranging the several parts is, however, new, and possesses many advantages over those heretofore used, as I have demonstrated by experiment. Every practical miller Will appreciate the benefits conf'erred by a turbine which is cheap and simple in construction, easily repaired, adjusted, or regulated, economical of water, (working with peculiar advantages under a low head,) and with the buckets always full, which desiderata I have attained by my invention.

Having thus fully described the construction and operation of my improved turbine, what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination of a turbine, A, with a guide-wheel, C, and an adjustable suspensionframe, E, when arranged and operating sub stantially in the manner described, for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination of the turbine A and adjustable gate G, when constructed, arranged, and operated substantially in the manner and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of an adjustable guideframe, a guide-wheel, and a turbine, with a gate arranged below the same, the whole operating substantially in the manner described, and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

DANIEL DONCASTER. Witnesses:

FR. Somvrrnr, J. SNOWDEN BELL. 

